No need to chicken out
NALINI MENON he first caveman to eat a chicken probably brandished a chicken leg in one hand before he proceeded to stuff it into his mouth. But then he had no Emily Post or Amy Vanderbilt to guide him through the fine art of dining.
Before chicken became a popular part of the menu of meals across the globe, it was served only at the tables of the rich and famous. In fact a lot of dishes were especially created for personalities of the day or named after special events. Chicken Marengo (originally made with crayfish, tomatoes and garlic with eggs served on the side) for instance, was cooked for Napoleon Bonaparte by his chef after the Battle of Marengo in 1800. Marengo, situated in the Italian province of Piedmont, was where Napoleon defeated the Austrians, in a battle which he regarded as the most brilliant of this career.
It is said that Napoleon never ate before he went into battle and was consequently famished. He deman- ded a meal almost instantly. The chef searched the village for what he could find and eventually concocted a dish (Chicken Marengo) that Napoleon found so delicious that he ordered it to be served after every battle!
In more modern times there have been lengthy debates about the etiquette involved in eating chicken (we are not talking about Indian food here). The general consensus is that if you are at a formal dinner, chicken should be eaten with a knife and fork. If the chicken is on the bone, use your implements to remove as much meat as you can — no clattering sounds please! Impale the piece of chicken with your fork (held in the left hand) and cut with your knife. Slice the meat with the grain, cutting it into small portions. Put your knife on your plate and use your fork to pick up bite-sized pieces of the chicken. When you’ve finished eating, place both implements together on your plate in the six o’clock position.
The rule changes drastically if you’re out on a picnic or at a barbeque or even at a cocktail where chicken tangri kebabs are being served. Here you may eat small boned chicken/chicken drumsticks with your fingers but licking your fingers is not allowed. Chicken bones must remain on your plate and not be transferred onto a side plate or furtively wrapped in your napkin!
Ultimately as well-known cookery writer Isabella Beeton said, “All creatures eat, but man only dines…’’ Etiquette may have changed over the years but it does still exist!